Vol. XII. No. 291. 



THE AOKICDLTDRAL NEWS 



205 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



LIVE STOCK NOlES. 



JUNE. 



Second Period. 



Seasonal Notes. 



During May, in several of the islunds, the pollination of 

 vanilla will have formed an interesting feature of current 

 agricultural operations. The student has, in sorao instances, 

 obtained practical experience iu this work. Notes should 

 be made as to the details of the methods employed. 

 An instructive procedure would be to construct diagrammatic 

 drawingi of the unfertilized ovary, and of this organ during 

 its development into a fruit. 



Attention should be given to those facts that will have 

 to be borne in mind during the curing of the pod. (la the 

 vanilla fruit strictly speaking a 'pod'?) For how long should 

 the pods be scalded in water? How are the pods dried, and 

 what are the characters of the well-fermented fruit? Recent 

 and important information on vanilla will be found in the 

 Agrieidtural Xtirs, Vol. XII, p. 116, and in the Report on 

 the Agricultural Department, Dominica, 1911-12. What is 

 vanillin? Does coumarin possess any economic significance 

 in regard to this substance.' (See A;/, icultural News, Vol. 

 XII, p. 47 [West Indian Products], and p. 116). 



The student — particularly the intending final or 

 intermediate candidate — should direct his attention to the 

 forthcoming Exhibitions in Great Britain and Canada. 



Information should be obtained as to what is being done 

 locally in regard to the Canadian National Exhibition (see 

 TJ'^es* Inditx in Canada, 1912) and in regard to the Colonial 

 Section at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show at Bristol. 

 What do you know of the arrangement? that are likely to be 

 made in connexion with the International Rubber Exhibition, 

 to be held in London, early in 191 If What kind of organiza- 

 tion is the International Association of Tropical Agriculture, 

 ■which will meet at the same time? 



Exhibitions afford a means of advertisement, not 

 only for the individual estate but for the whole island, 

 and in a wider sense, of the entire region. They further, 

 induce healthy competition in regard to excellence of 

 production, and finally, they aid in the matter of keeping 

 producer and manufacturer in touch with one another. 



Questions for Candidates. 



Preli.mixary Questions. 



(1) fiiven normal weather conditions, state approxim- 

 ately how many inches in height a cotton seedling grows 

 during a period of one month. 



(2) Are Cru CJru nuts of any value? 



Intkr.medute Questions. 



(1) Write a short account of the cultivation and 

 preparation for market, of vanilla. 



(2) Contrast the characters of the lint of Sea Island, 

 Marie Galante, and Sakellarides cotton. 



Final Questions. 



(1) Explain the dift'erences between the ac'ivities of 

 the International Bureau of Agriculture, Rome, and those of 

 the International Association of Tropic al Agriculture. 



(2) Write from memory a short account of the chief 

 root boiers and other grubs in West Indian soils. Explain 

 the extent of the damage they inllict. 



THE CARE OF EGGS. 



An extensive investigation has recently been made 

 by the Bureau of Animal Industry, United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, into the different environmental con- 

 ditions which affect the deterioration of eggs. The infor- 

 mation is published in Bulletin 160 of the Bureau 

 mentioned. The conclusion is reached that the greatest 

 deterioration in fertile eggs occurs when they have 

 undergone a certain amount of natural incubation, as for 

 example, in the nest of layers. It is strongly emphasized 

 that infertile eggs, regardless of where they may be kept, 

 are much more resistant to deterioration than fertile ones. 

 In fertile eggs, the development of the embryo after twenty- 

 four hours of incubation, was (f .sullicient proportion to be 

 recognized when held before the candle, and at the expira- 

 tion of thirty-six hours, the presence of blood was easily 

 detected. In infertile eggs, under the same conditions, 

 a slight shinkage of the contents was the only change which 

 could be recognized by the eye. The results of all experi- 

 mental work point to the fact that the production of 

 infertile eggs is the greatest asset in the attempt to produce 

 high quality marketable eggs during hot weather. The 

 summary to the Ijulletin concludes with the following five 

 rules: (1) give the hens clean nests, (2) gather eggs at least 

 once daily, (3) keep the eggs in a cool dry place, (4) dispose 

 of the eggs at least twice a week, (5) kill or sell all mature 

 male birds as soon as the hatching season closes. 



Maize for Dairy Cows.— An article entitled the 

 preservation and use of maize tor stock feed which is appear- 

 ing in instalments in the AyiicuUural Joiirn'il oj the Union 

 of South Africa, contains some interesting quotations about 

 maize as a food for dairy cows. It is pointed out first that 

 since milk production calls for a large amount of protein in 

 the ration and as maize grain is, though exceedingly 

 palatable to cows, a foodstuti' rich in carbohydrates but poor 

 in protein, it should not, therefore, form more than one-half 

 or three-fifths of the concentrated food given to a cow. The 

 following ration per head per day is taken from the article 

 referred to, as likely to prove of interest to stock feeders in 

 the West Indies: maize .silage 35 Bb.; maize and cobmeal 3 lb.; 

 hay 10 B).; bran 3 Bi ; cottonseed meal 2 ft.; Chicago 

 gluten meal 2 Bb. 



Information is contained in Diploinatic and Consular 

 Report, No. 5049 — Annual Serie.s, which shows that owing 

 to their immunity from Texas fever, Indian cattle were being 

 rapidly imported into Brazil during 1911. This breed, 

 however, is not now considered .satisfactory stock, and the 

 Government is determined not to give any assistance in the 

 way of introducing it. Among European cattle the mortality 

 from Texas fever is very heavy, and farmers consider the 

 grant from the Government too small in comparison wi'h the 

 risk they run in acclimatizing the animals. 



One case of anthrax In r. calf has occurred in St. Vincent 

 during the month of May 1913. The total number of deaths 

 from other causes amongst domesticated animals in that isl*nd 

 was eighty- six. 



